A disagreement between one Joshua Igbashiro and a Fulani herdsman has reportedly left an Edo State resident dead and some of the state’s police officers wounded.

A statement made available to newsmen by the Edo State Police Command disclosed that the herder suddenly shot at the deceased who spoke Hausa. The slain man attempted to mediate in the heated argument between Igbashiro and the herdsman before being shot dead. Immediately afterwards, the Fulani herdsman fled the crime scene.

When people lodged a complaint and Ekiadolor Police Divisional Headquarters in Benin mobilized officers to arrest the herder, some herdsmen with AK 47 rifles ambushed them.

The police statement read in part:

Thereafter, the Divisional Police Officer, Ekiadolor division detailed Police operatives led by the District Officer (Owan Police Station), ASP Okodomi, with 11 men from the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and the village hunters, to the community for the arrest of the suspect and recovery of the gun.

Unfortunately while the team of policemen were on board in a boat to cross over Ofe River heading to Ofutebe Community near Owan community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, some suspected herdsmen with AK 47 riffles, ambushed them, fired sporadically at them and in the process ASP Monday Ogeide and the complainant were shot on their hands, while Inspector Ogundele Sunday was not seen immediately after the attack.

Consequently, the Command receiving the report of the incident, mobilized a back-up team who rescued ASP Monday Ogeide and the complainant and rushed them to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
This time, the whereabouts of Inspector Ogundele Sunday was still unknown. Efforts were put in place to rescue him, recover his riffle and also to effect the arrest of the suspects,” the statement said.

On the 28th day of January, 2020, a search party led by CSP Abdullahi Wase, the Divisional Police Officer, Ekiadolor divisional headquarters, in collaboration with the vigilant group and the hunters were dispatched to the scene of crime in search of Inspector Ogundele Sunday.

After a rigorous and diligent search, the officer was sighted on Ofe River, inside a boat and he was rescued alive with his riffle. He was immediately taken to the hospital where he is currently receiving treatment.

The Edo State’s Police Spokesperson, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, disclosed that the police has launched a manhunt to arrest all the herdsmen involved and arraign them before appropriate court accordingly.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.